William E. Niblack

William E. Niblack
Judge on the Indiana Supreme Court
In office
January 1, 1877−January 7, 1889
Preceded bySamuel Hamilton Buskirk
Succeeded bySilas Coffey
Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
SpeakerJames G. Blaine
Preceded bySelf/
Samuel J. Randall (1871)
Succeeded byLucius Q. C. Lamar II
In office
March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871
Serving with Samuel J. Randall
SpeakerJames G. Blaine
Preceded byGeorge S. Houston (1861)
Succeeded bySelf
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1875
Preceded byBenoni S. Fuller
Succeeded byJohn Law
In office
December 7, 1857 – March 3, 1861
Preceded byJohn Law
Succeeded byJames Lockhart
Judge of the Indiana Third Judicial Circuit Court
In office
January 1854–October 1859
Member of the Indiana Senate
In office
1850–1853
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
In office
1849–1850
Personal details
Born
William Ellis Niblack

May 19, 1822
Dubois County, Indiana
DiedMay 7, 1893(1893-05-07) (aged 70)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Political partyDemocratic
Signature

William Ellis Niblack (May 19, 1822 – May 7, 1893) was a politician and judge who served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana, a judge on the Indiana Supreme Court, and a member of both the Indiana Senate and the Indiana House of Representatives

Niblack was born in Dubois County, Indiana, a cousin of Silas Leslie Niblack. He attended the country schools and Indiana University at Bloomington. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1843 and commenced practice in Vincennes, Indiana.

He was Surveyor of Dubois County. He served as member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1849 and 1850, and served in the Indiana Senate 1850−1853. He served as judge of the circuit court of the third judicial district from January 1854 until October 1859, when he resigned. He moved to Vincennes, Indiana, in 1855.

Niblack was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-fifth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James Lockhart. He was reelected to the Thirty-sixth Congress and served from December 7, 1857, to March 3, 1861. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1860. He was again a member of the Indiana House of Representatives in 1862 and 1863, and served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1864, 1868, and 1876.

Niblack was elected to the Thirty-ninth and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1865 − March 3, 1875). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1874. He resumed the practice of law and served as judge of the Indiana Supreme Court 1877−1889. He moved to Indianapolis in 1889 and retired from public life. He died in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 7, 1893 and was interred in Crown Hill Cemetery.